Techniques for fabrication of temporary dental restorations

Introduction: Temporary restorations are an important part of modern prosthodontic treatment. Temporaries are made nearly exactly like the final restoration while protecting from mechanical, thermal, chemical and biological irritations and improving the patient esthetics and function. They are beneficial in diagnostics and treatment planning. Form, shape, shade and occlusion can be easily evaluated and corrected. Aim: The aim was to evaluate the efficiency of different techniques for fabrication of temporary restorations. Material and methods: Fifteen temporary restorations for single crowns and dental bridges were made with three different techniques direct, indirect and direct–indirect. The direct technique was performed completely in the patient's mouth in one session with putty index after preparation and self-curing bis-acrylic composite resin. The indirect technique was done all in laboratory with wax up of prepared and missing teeth and direct–indirect technique was combination of two techniques but is done before preparation. Advantages and disadvantages were noted during the process of fabrication. Results: The direct technique is the least time consuming procedure, but bis-acrylic resin often gets stuck and locks into undercuts which makes removing the restoration without deformation very difficult. Indirect technique does not consume chair time, but the patient will be longer without restoration making the unprotected prepared teeth more prone to influence of irritations. Direct-indirect technique provides template for the definitive restoration, saves chair time and permits removal of old and immediate replacement with the final restorations. Conclusions: The most efficient technique for fabrication of temporary dental restorations is the direct-indirect technique. Keywords: bis-acrylic composite resin, provisional, putty index, wax-up